86 Participants Needed

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Autism

(PerspectivesII Trial)

Age: < 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial will test two therapies for adults with autism. One therapy aims to improve thinking and planning through mental exercises. The other provides support to help manage emotions and social skills. The study focuses on adults because there are few treatments available for them.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It might be best to discuss this with the trial coordinators.

Is Cognitive Enhancement Therapy safe for adults with autism?

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) has been studied in adults with autism and was found to be satisfying to participants, with high treatment attendance and retention, suggesting it is generally safe and well-tolerated.12345

How is Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Autism different from other treatments?

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) is unique because it combines supportive therapy with social skills and cognitive training to improve thinking and social abilities, originally developed for schizophrenia. It focuses on enhancing cognitive functions and social interactions through group exercises and interactive software, which may offer a novel approach for autism compared to traditional therapies.678910

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Autism?

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) has shown benefits in improving thinking skills and social functioning in people with schizophrenia, suggesting it might help with similar challenges in autism. Studies have found that CET can enhance cognitive and social abilities, which are often areas of difficulty for individuals with autism.678911

Who Is on the Research Team?

NJ

Nancy J Minshew, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

SM

Shaun M Eack, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Adults aged 16-45 with autism, Asperger's syndrome, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), who have an IQ over 80 and significant social/cognitive challenges. Participants must speak English fluently, be able to attend sessions in Pittsburgh, PA, and have a supportive person for information sharing.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to read and speak fluent English
I am between 16 and 45 years old.
I can go to weekly treatment sessions in Pittsburgh, PA.
See 4 more

Exclusion Criteria

Organic brain syndrome
History of disruptive or violent behavior
I have ADHD that has not been treated.
See 6 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) or Enriched Supportive Therapy (EST) for 18 months

18 months
Weekly visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for the lasting impact of the study interventions

12 months
Periodic assessments (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Cognitive Enhancement Therapy
  • Enriched Supportive Therapy
Trial Overview The trial is testing Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) against Enriched Supportive Therapy (EST). CET focuses on improving thinking and social skills while EST helps with understanding the condition, managing emotions/stress, enhancing social abilities, and problem-solving.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Cognitive Enhancement TherapyExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Enriched Supportive TherapyActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,820
Recruited
16,360,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials
3,007
Recruited
2,852,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) aims to improve social cognition in schizophrenia patients by using interactive software and group exercises, focusing on abstract thinking and social context understanding.
Preliminary observations suggest that CET effectively addresses cognitive deficits related to social interactions, potentially helping patients manage symptoms of schizophrenia more effectively.
Practice principles of cognitive enhancement therapy for schizophrenia.Hogarty, GE., Flesher, S.[2019]
Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) showed sustained improvements in cognitive and social functioning one year after treatment in individuals with schizophrenia, based on a study of 121 participants.
Early improvements in processing speed were identified as a key factor mediating the long-term benefits of CET on social cognition and adjustment, suggesting that enhancing this cognitive aspect may be crucial for ongoing therapeutic effects.
Durability and mechanism of effects of cognitive enhancement therapy.Hogarty, GE., Greenwald, DP., Eack, SM.[2019]
Cognitive enhancement therapy (CET) significantly improved overall cognition in patients with early-course schizophrenia over an 18-month period, as confirmed by a study involving 102 outpatients.
While CET showed promising effects on social cognition and attention, it did not significantly outperform enriched supportive therapy (EST) in improving social adjustment, although the benefits appeared to increase for those who completed the treatment.
Confirmatory Efficacy of Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Early Schizophrenia: Results From a Multisite Randomized Trial.Wojtalik, JA., Mesholam-Gately, RI., Hogarty, SS., et al.[2023]

Citations

Adapting cognitive remediation to a group home: A brief report. [2017]
Practice principles of cognitive enhancement therapy for schizophrenia. [2019]
Durability and mechanism of effects of cognitive enhancement therapy. [2019]
Confirmatory Efficacy of Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Early Schizophrenia: Results From a Multisite Randomized Trial. [2023]
Neurocognitive enhancement therapy with vocational services: work outcomes at two-year follow-up. [2022]
Cognitive enhancement therapy for adults with autism spectrum disorder: results of an 18-month feasibility study. [2022]
Cognitive enhancement therapy for adult autism spectrum disorder: Results of an 18-month randomized clinical trial. [2019]
Brief report: is cognitive rehabilitation needed in verbal adults with autism? Insights from initial enrollment in a trial of cognitive enhancement therapy. [2021]
Cognitive remediation therapy in autism spectrum disorder: Tunisian experience. [2020]
Individual cognitive remediation therapy benefits for patients with anorexia nervosa and high autistic features. [2022]
11.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Cognitive enhancement therapy: a therapeutic treatment strategy for first-episode schizophrenia patients. [2019]
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